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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Athini Chithini

From Thenali · 2000

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singers
Hariharan, Kamal Haasan, Chitra Sivaraman
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Thenali2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Thakgidu thathha{Thakgidu thathha
Thakgidu thathhaThakgidu thathha
Thakgidu thathha thath} (2)Thakgidu thathha thath} (2)
Male
Thakgidu thattha athini chiththiniThakgidu thattha, the four classic types of women: Hastini, Chitrini,
Thakgidu thattha pathini tharanginiThakgidu thattha, Padmini and Shankhini!
Oo athini chiththini pathini tharanginiOh, Hastini, Chitrini, Padmini, Shankhini,
Oo adi athini chiththini pathini tharanginiOh girl, Hastini, Chitrini, Padmini, Shankhini!
Pengal thedum vagai theriyumadiI know the ways to seek and understand women!
Chorus
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..oooOhooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..oooOhooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Ooo..ooo..ooo..oooOoo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Male
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyaeParrot, parrot, parrot,
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyaeParrot, parrot, parrot,
Nee kiliaye kiliyae kiliyaeYou parrot, parrot, parrot,
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae vaaParrot, parrot, parrot, come!
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae…Parrot, parrot, parrot…
Kiliyae kiliyae varuvayaaParrot, parrot, will you come?
Eh hey eh heyEh hey eh hey
Male
Thakgidu thattha athini chiththiniThakgidu thattha, Hastini, Chitrini,
Thakgidu thattha pathini tharanginiThakgidu thattha, Padmini, Shankhini!
Oo adi athini chiththini pathini tharanginiOh girl, Hastini, Chitrini, Padmini, Shankhini!
Pengal thedum vagai theriyumadiI know the ways to seek and understand women!
Female
Ahaa….aaa….haaa…aaaa….Ahaa….aaa….haaa…aaaa….
Ahaaa…aaaa….Ahaaa…aaaa….
Haaa…aaaa…aaa……Haaa…aaaa…aaa……
Female
Adai mazhai thaalaadhu podaaThe heavy downpour will not wait, go on,
En kanna en kannaMy precious one, my darling!
Male :Madana kamarasan konjaMale: To caress you like the king of love,
Azhaikiren unnaiI am calling you,
Female
Valaiyalaal konjiCaressing with bangles,
Minji ketten ho..oooI asked with desire, ho..ooo
Male :Un kaal kolusinilMale: In the sound of your anklets,
Kenjal kanden pennaeI saw a plea, my girl!
Chorus
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..oooOhooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..oooOhooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Ooo..ooo..ooo..oooOoo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Male
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyaeParrot, parrot, parrot,
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyaeParrot, parrot, parrot,
Nee kiliaye kiliyae kiliyaeYou parrot, parrot, parrot,
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae vaaParrot, parrot, parrot, come!
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae…Parrot, parrot, parrot…
Kiliyae kiliyae varuvayaaParrot, parrot, will you come?
Female
Thara rara raa…rathaa..aaaThara rara raa…rathaa..aaa
Male
Kundrinil kurinji kandenI saw Kurinji (mountains) on the hills,
Un kola idaiyinil marudham kandenI saw Marudham (plains) in your slender waist,
Female :Haa…aaaa……aaaa…Female: Haa…aaaa……aaaa…
Male :Kangalil neidhal kandenMale: I saw Neidhal (coastal sea) in your eyes,
Un kai viral azhaginil mullai kandenI saw Mullai (forests) in the beauty of your fingers,
Female
Guru mozhi illadhaWithout a teacher's spoken word,
Kalai katru parppom vaa…aaaLet us learn the art of love, come…aaa
Nee koodi pirigaiyilAs we unite and part,
Suriyan parppom vaaLet us watch the rising sun, come!
Chorus
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..oooOhooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Female :Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..oooFemale: Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Male :Ooo..ooo..ooo..oooMale: Ooo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Male
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyaeKiliyae kiliyae kiliyae
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyaeKiliyae kiliyae kiliyae
Nee kiliaye kiliyae kiliyaeYou parrot, parrot, parrot,
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae vaaParrot, parrot, parrot, come!
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae…Parrot, parrot, parrot…
Kiliyae kiliyae nee varuvayaaParrot, parrot, will you come?
Male
Thakkidu thaththaThakkidu thaththa
Female :Vallinam kalanginamFemale: The hard consonants (Vallinam) trembled,
Male :Thakkidu thaththaMale: Thakkidu thaththa
Female :Idaiyinam odindhanamFemale: The medium consonants (Idaiyinam) broke,
Male :Ohh…adiMale: Oh… girl!
Female :Vallinam idaiyinam mellinamFemale: Hard, medium, and soft consonants,
Ada vallinam idaiyinam mellinamOh, hard, medium, and soft consonants,
Naanam koochchalida sivandhanamTurned red as bashfulness screamed out!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie Thenali (2000), composed by A. R. Rahman and written by Arivumathi, is a playful and highly poetic romantic duet. The track utilizes classical classification systems of feminine grace (the traditional Samudrika Lakshanam archetypes: Padmini, Chitrini, Shankhini, and Hastini) alongside Tamil Sangam poetic landscapes (Kurinji, Marudham, Neidhal, Mullai) and Tamil grammatical elements (Vallinam, Idaiyinam, Mellinam) as metaphors for physical beauty, love, and intimacy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Aetiyadhigal / Traditional Categorization Metaphor

Thakgidu thattha athini chiththini pathini tharangini

References the four classical types of women in classical Indian erotic literature: Padmini, Chitrini, Shankhini (Pathini/Tharangini variations), and Hastini (Athini).

Thinai Metaphor (Ainthinai / Sangam Poetic Landscapes)

Kundrinil kurinji kanden un kola idaiyinil marudham kanden

Compares features of the beloved's body to the traditional five landscapes of Tamil Sangam poetry: Kurinji (hills), Marudham (plains/fields), Neidhal (sea/coasts), and Mullai (forests).

Grammatical Metaphor (Meyyezhuthu Categorization)

Female :Vallinam idaiyinam mellinam

Uses Tamil consonant classifications—Vallinam (hard), Idaiyinam (medium), and Mellinam (soft)—as an intricate metaphor describing emotional and physical sensations during romance.

Anaphora / Repetition (Epanalepsis)

Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae

Repeats the term of endearment 'Kiliyae' (parrot) rhythmically to emphasize affectionate pleading.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the music for 'Thenali' was composed by A. R. Rahman, this specific track 'Athini Chiththini' (often referred to as 'Alangatti Mazhai' or 'Kiliye Kiliye') features lyrics by poet Arivumathi, who seamlessly incorporated ancient Tamil Sangam literary tropes (Ainthinai) and Tamil grammar classifications (Vallinam, Idaiyinam, Mellinam) into modern film music.

Keep listening

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